The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
The Purpose of AI in the Age of Resource Scarcity Introduction: Redefining the Question The question “What is the purpose of AI in AEC?” often elicits a predictable response focused on speed. For years the industry has viewed Artificial Intelligence primarily as a mechanism for automation. It is seen as a faster way to produce … Read more
The project explores a contemporary reinterpretation of Finnish cabins, combining seasonal water living, public wellness, and boating storage. The core idea is that small modular units — cabins, saunas and workspaces — can aggregate into larger urban and social systems. Helsinki has a harsh Nordic climate, with long winters ranging from –10°C to +25°C, high … Read more
Introduction: More Than a Robot in a Hard Hat The buzz around Artificial Intelligence in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is impossible to ignore. Every conference seems to feature a new tool promising to revolutionize everything from design to demolition. You might be forgiven for picturing an AI as a robot in a … Read more
Introduction Floating Grounds proposes a flood-resilient urban model for Jakarta that merges housing, public programs, and a stadium into a single floating system. Instead of resisting water, the project accepts it as a permanent condition and uses it as an organizing element. The work explores how large-scale infrastructure can support community life while addressing land … Read more
At the beginning of the semester, we were asked to reflect on the role of artificial intelligence in the AEC industry. Looking back, my answer then came from a much more limited understanding. Revisiting the question now, after a series of lectures, I realize that what has changed is not so much how much I … Read more
Ingredients Climate Reykjavík’s climate shapes the entire project. The site is exposed to strong, multi-directional winds reaching 27 m/s, with a prevailing direction around 135°. Daylight conditions are equally extreme, shifting from long summer days to very short winter ones. The system therefore needs to adapt, protect, and still create comfortable public spaces. Form Our formal … Read more
“Terrascape does not impose an external order; it encodes the survival logic of the Mexican informal ‘barrio’ to transform it into a dignified, resilient, and dynamic housing system.“ The Geometry of Necessity In the rugged topography of Chihuahua, Mexico, the “Barrio” is not just a residential zone; it is a morphological catalyst. It embodies a … Read more
Monsoon Nest is a modular housing proposal for Bangkok that responds to monsoon rainfall, flooding, and high-density urban conditions. The project explores adaptable modules, elevated structures, and passive climate strategies to create resilient, community-oriented living environments in a tropical context. The design of Monsoon Nest is informed by four primary parameters: contextual environmental data, parametric … Read more
“The Harbin Code“, designed by Muhammed Senin and Sushmitha Ravi, explores housing as a system-driven response to extreme cold climates. The project treats environmental performance, social interaction, and spatial flexibility as equally important design parameters, and is structured as a ‘building recipe’ that allows repeatable yet adaptable outcomes across the site. BUILDING RECIEP DESIGN STRATEGY … Read more
Morphing Sands is a climate-responsive mixed-use architectural system developed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, addressing urban densification in a hot–humid coastal environment. Inspired by the historic fabric of Al-Balad, the project reinterprets Hijazi principles—such as courtyards, shaded streets, and layered façades—through a modular and computational design approach. The project organizes commercial functions horizontally at the lower … Read more
Faraj ba’d Shiddah Market is a reimagination of Bab al-Luq market in Cairo, Egypt, that explores a compression-to-relief multilevel shopping and community space with parametrically lofted hexagonal tessellations that plays with light and shadow. Inspiration The initial idea transforms Bab al-Luq through a journey of compression and release—visitors navigate through shadowed tunnel entrances lined with … Read more
Glass fibre 3D printed temporary pavilion A structural and topological investigation into voxelised lattice systems, combining catenary form-finding with performance-driven optimisation to explore emergent spatial order and material efficiency. The Idea This project explores how a rigid, modular voxel system can define and enclose a pavilion, while an internally generated catenary geometry shapes circulation and … Read more
From Dense Lattice to Optimized 3D-Printed Structure 1. Project Overview This project explores the design and structural optimization of a temporary pavilion using computational design tools and lattice-based construction logic. The pavilion is conceived as a porous, walkable structure designed for large-scale 3D printing using glass-fiber reinforced recycled PET. The main objective is to investigate … Read more
This technical report details the computational workflow developed for our final structural optimization assignment. The project methodology follows a rigorous sequence: initial form-finding, stress-line analysis, lattice topology selection, and cross-section optimization, culminating in a robotic fabrication strategy. General Workflow Overview The design process is structured around a linear algorithmic pipeline. It begins with form-finding utilizing … Read more
The Concept The pavilion’s striking, organic form isn’t just aesthetic; it is rooted in the Clebsch diagonal cubic, a cubic algebraic surface defined by the equation: x03+x13+x23+x33+x43=0x sub 0 cubed plus x sub 1 cubed plus x sub 2 cubed plus x sub 3 cubed plus x sub 4 cubed equals 0 subject to the … Read more
For the Love of Pasta Introduction: From Your Dinner Plate to Architectural Design Look closely at a piece of pasta. The curves, ridges, and hollows aren’t just for holding sauce; they are feats of structural engineering in miniature. But could the mathematical logic behind a common pasta shape be scaled up to create a full-sized, … Read more
